Throughout my internship at Gallery Watch, a provider of current legislative tracking and analysis, I was treated like a full-time reporter. Most weeks, I attended three Congressional committee hearings and wrote articles summarizing the proceedings. After spending time on Capitol Hill to collect written testimony from the hearings, I posted press releases on our web site. I was responsible for posting press releases from The White House and Congressional offices as well. Among other topics, I wrote articles on the U.S. Patriot Act, detainee abuse at Guantanamo Bay , the North Korean nuclear crisis and embryonic stem cell research.

I think that the greatest advantage of coming to D.C. through The Washington Center is the multi-faceted experience it provides. Students are encouraged to prepare for the job search by completing the portfolio. They learn about current events through the Washington Forum, continue to grow academically through coursework and develop civic responsibility through volunteering. The Washington Center makes an internship less of a resume-builder and more of a life-changing experience. My exposure to such a politically-charged atmosphere helped me realize that I want to stay connected to the field after graduation.

As an intern with the Foreign Media Reaction Office at the State Department, I worked with other staff members to analyze and disseminate key findings and major themes of international editorials on a variety of subjects. Three of my reports were actually published on the State Department web site, and for one project I compiled information from over 80 U.S. consulates and embassies. I've also developed many practical life skills that I never acquired at school. I'm now accustomed to writing professional emails, interacting with colleagues and navigating a metropolitan area. I even had a celebrity encounter! During a Town Hall Question-and-Answer Session, in my very first day of orientation at my internship, I sat 20 feet from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Life at college was starting to become repetitive and The Washington Center allowed me to challenge myself in a new way. Through the housing that they provide, I connected with three fantastic roommates from Puerto Rico . This situation provided me with exposure to a new culture and I even learned some Spanish. The Washington Forum, especially the Presidential Lecture Series, was an invaluable opportunity to hear people from different fields in Washington , D.C. talk about their experiences and offer advice. We heard Under Secretary of Homeland Security Asa Hutchinson speak about border security, among other issues. I even got to ask him a question about his aspirations to run for Governor of Arkansas after he concluded his remarks.